THIBODAUX, La. — Mississippi Valley State’s 2026 football season got off to a difficult start Thursday night as the Delta Devils were overwhelmed by Nicholls, falling 44-10 at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
Nicholls set the tone early and never looked back, racing to a 37-0 halftime advantage behind a dominant offensive performance and a defense that forced four turnovers in the first half.
Nicholls quarterback Ean Rodrigue completed 16 of 25 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Jordan Smith and Greg Donaldson on explosive scoring plays. Donaldson finished with 100 receiving yards on just three catches.
Running back Tamaj Hoffman added two rushing touchdowns as the Colonels built a commanding lead before halftime.
Nicholls finished the night with 515 total yards, including 347 through the air, while Mississippi Valley State managed 228 yards of total offense. The Colonels also won the turnover battle, forcing six MVSU turnovers while committing just two of their own.
Mississippi Valley State finally found the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
Defensive back Tyrell Johnson provided the game’s biggest play for the Delta Devils, intercepting a Nicholls pass and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown with 10:58 remaining. Luka Sari later connected on a 34-yard field goal, giving MVSU 10 unanswered points to close the game.
The Delta Devils did show some promise on the ground, rushing for 149 yards. Josh Brown led MVSU with 62 rushing yards on eight carries, while Dezmond Ray added 49 yards on 10 attempts.
Defensively, Joel Queisser led Mississippi Valley State with nine tackles.
